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A broken string on a pull cord curtain does not have to be a death knell for the rod. These highly functional rods allow the easy opening and closing of large curtains or the operation of curtains into not easily accessible spaces, such as behind a sofa. You can attempt the repair and be assured of a successful outcome if you take a bit of time and follow drapery installers' cord-threading tips.

1

Take the curtains off the pin carriers and take remove the rod from the brackets. There are two components parts of the rod that meet in the middle. One has an arm that fits over the other component. This is the overlap carrier, and it is typically on the left side of the curtain rod. The other center carrier is the underlap carrier. These two components meet in the middle when the curtain is drawn. The overlap carrier positions the left center edge of the curtain over the right center edge.

2

Look at the pulleys in the end of the rod. There are two pulleys at each end. One is close to the outside edge of the rod and toward the top of the rod. The other is slightly below the first pulley and toward the center of the rod. There is also a cord channel on the window side of the rod through which the cords and pin carriers travel.

3

Lay the rod down with the cord channel on the surface. For these instructions, we will assume that the overlap carrier is on the left. If your overlap carrier is on the right, you must reverse the cording directions.

4

Remove the old cord and cut a new cord the same length plus 8 inches. If your cord is missing, the length of cord you need is equal to twice the width of the curtain rod and twice the length of the draw cord, which is the long loop that hangs down the side of the drapes, plus 8 inches. The draw cord is typically on the same end of the rod as the overlap carrier. Wrap some clear tape around the ends of the cord to facilitate threading it through the cord channel.

5

Unbend a paper clip until you have a small hook on one end, or have a small crochet hook, size 1 mm or less, handy.

6

Feed one end of the cord up the outside edge of the top pulley on the left end of the rod. Let it roll over the pulley and out into the cord channel. Use your threading tool as necessary to move the cord along the channel under any pin carriers to the overlap carrier. The overlap carrier has 2 small holes parallel to the track channel. Use your tool to reach into the left hole and pull the cord up from the channel through to the surface. Clamp a binder clip to the end of the cord. Make sure the cord is secure in the clip.

7

Pick up the remaining end of the cord and feed it up through the space between the two pulleys on the left end of the rod. This side has the cord loop. Leave the predetermined loop of cord hanging free from the pulleys. Use your feeding tool to move the end over the top of the right-hand pulley and into the track channel, under the pin carriers, and under the center carrier on the left. The underlap carrier, which is to the right of the center, also has two small holes parallel to the track channel. Use your tool to bring the cord up through the left-hand hole. Feed it back down the right-hand hole and into the channel. Use your tool to move the cord under the pin carriers and along the channel to the right hand pulleys.

8

Roll the cord over the top outside pulley, down the outside edge and back up between the two pulleys. Use your tool to move the cord over the left pulley. Pull up the slack. The cord must be secure around the pulleys on this side of the rod. Feed the cord into the channel and under the pin carriers back toward the center.

9

Pass the cord under the right-hand carrier and bring it up through the right-hand hole on the back of the overlap carrier. Remove the binder clip and tie the two cords together with a tight square knot. Leave 1 inch of each cord past the knot and trim off the excess.

10

Remove all the slack from the cords in the track channel by moving the overlap and underlap carriers to meet in the middle. Hold them in position while you pull the draw cord and remove any slack.

11

Reposition the rod on the brackets and rehang the drapes on the rod.

Things You Will Need

Tape measure

Drapery pull cord

Scissors

Clear tape

Paper clip

1mm crochet hook

Binder clip

Tip

About the Author

Linda Erlam started writing educational manuals in 1979. She also writes a biweekly newspaper column, "Design Dilemmas," in the "Lakeshore News" and has been published in "Design and Drapery Pro" magazine. Erlam is a graduate of the Sheffield School of Interior Design and is a practicing interior decorator and drapery workroom operator.